Pathogenicity and Molecular Characterization of Strains Isolated from the Hospital Environment of CHU-Z Abomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava (Benin).

is a major human pathogen present on a third of the healthy population. The bacterium possesses an extensive arsenal of virulence factors. The pathogenicity is linked with high plasticity and its exceptional ability to incorporate foreign genetic material. The aim of the present study was to perform molecular characterization of strains isolated from the clinical environment of the CHU-Z Abomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava. Isolation of bacterium was performed on Chapman agar. Toxin production by isolated strains was investigated using the radial immunoprecipitation technique. A colorimetric assay was used to evaluate lipase (SA-Lipase) production. Finally, the expression of antibiotic resistance genes and genes encoding toxins production was investigated. Our data suggest that none of the isolated strains expressed the investigated toxin genes. Interestingly, SA-Lipase was produced by 14.28% of our isolated strains. The A gene was present in 57.14% of the isolated strains, while PVL and TSST-1 genes were identified in 2.85 and 7.14% of respectively. Significant genetic diversity was observed along the hospital environment strains. The present study reveals the level of virulence of strains isolated in the different units of CHU-Z Abomey Calavi/Sô-Ava through the production of lipase, PVL, and epidermolysins. The molecular study has favored a genetic characterization within the isolated strains.